TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO:6503) announced today it has developed a technology to detect absent-mindedness and other cognitive distractions in drivers when their vehicles are traveling straight, using a type of machine-learning algorithm known as deep learning. The company believes this is a first in the automotive industry. Although systems exist to detect drivers who are visually distracted due to drowsiness or inattentiveness, the detection of cognitive distractions has been difficult because symptoms sometimes appear in a driver’s behavior or biological patterns, rather than in their face or eye movements. Mitsubishi Electric’s new technology uses a machine-learning algorithm to analyze time-series data, including information about the vehicle (steering, etc.) and driver (heart rate, facial orientation, etc.), to detect and warn drivers about potentially dangerous indications. Key FeaturesPredicting appropriate driving actions…